46 minutes ago, CrouchingNunhiddenCucumber said:

You're 'all or nothing' approach to Mowbray is naieve at best, frankly. 

The point I made which he replied to was about our transfer strategy, which made his staunch defence even more baffling and irrelevant.

49 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Stop having slight digs for nothing reasons at Mowbray. 

We need to remain patient and back Mowbray totally

I never had any slight digs! 

Go back, read what I put and try again.

2 hours ago, roverandout said:

This might sound concieted but we deserve to be in the final more than croatia. How many times have we been cheated in quarter finals, second round ties..been so close in semi finals..a post's worth away.  Croatia havent been anywhere near that..granted they have only exsisted for 20 odd years but we have had to suffer heartache for more than 50 odd years.  We deserve this.

I get your angle, the fans are due some happiness, but whoever goes through deserves to. Hopefully us.

1 hour ago, chaddyrovers said:

 

who says its beyond our reach for us to sign this Peterborough player? or maybe Mowbray doesn't want him and looking at other players were we could sign 2 or 3 cash buys instead of spending big on one player? 

Maddison's release clause is 2.5 million pounds according to media reports. do you rate the player and is he worth the money? 

why underwhelmed with our transfer business when you see the transfer market is a mess and over priced for average players. surely we have to remain patient and hopefully we will get our targets in the end for the correct fees? 

From speaking to fans who attended the Hibs game Davenport was excellent and looks a player. 

If we are after 2 wide players I would deffo want Ryan Kent who had an excellent season at Barnsley when on loan there and Chapman permanently. I feel we need another striker signing aswell. possible another centre back 

its looks a crazy market so far and the buying market ends in less than 4 weeks. 

exactly

More misses than hits? Some of the players who has been misses didn't cost us much or a penny in fees. 

I would say the job Mowbray has done to turn  this club around and get fans, club and players all united and all going in one direction is a great job and something that doesn't be written off. 

wasn't Bell named in the PFA team of the year last season? 

 

Stop being needlessly defensive of Mowbray when its totally unwarranted. I never said he hasnt done a great job or got people united so please dont portray that I did. Putting this is both inaccurate and irrelevant.

I made a point in isolation about buying players for small fees, and how its worked as a strategy thus far. I listed these, and bar Dack the players we bought for fees last season have either turned out to be squad players, or just generally of no use ie Gladwin and Hart.

I'm well aware that some of the other signings he made via different means (Smallwood, out of contract or Armstrong, loan) were also successes.

My point was that these fees might need to go up a bit and that we need to look at a higher calibre of players than your Gladwins, Samuels and Harts.

He was, quite strangely considering he didnt play that much really here, so must have got it for his form at Fleetwood. I dont understand why you even put that, I never said hes rubbish or a bad signing, just that hes a squad player in that I think Mowbray considers Williams to be his number 1 at left back.

1 hour ago, JHRover said:

If the manager wants significant cash out of the owners it is usually granted when the owners are convinced that there is a good chance of a return on that investment down the line. Money paid out on Dack, Samuel, Bell, Davenport and Rothwell since Mowbray was at the helm. All at the young end of the scale with scope to improve and increase in value. The potential profit on Dack alone would cover all of that and then some.

People talk about what a shambles the club has been but from a purely financial point of view the business done in terms of spending on players and sales of players has been nothing short of phenomenal over the last 3-4 years.

The last significant cash buys that turned out badly were way back with Etuhu, Best, Campbell etc.

We haven't actually spent money on anyone who hasn't subsequently increased in value with the possible exception of Samuel who at present is unlikely to be worth more than we paid for him. Maybe too early on Davenport, Rothwell and Bell but a competent start to life in the Championship would likely see values increase.

There have been plenty of duds but they have usually been free transfers or loans.

Good business indeed if you're looking to turn a healthy profit on player trading and use that to subsidise the club.

In terms of where Mowbray has spent money, however small the fees, id argue there are definitely more misses/unknowns than hits. Gladwin and Hart are definite failures, Samuel may not have been an unmitigated disaster but id suggest wed never make a profit on him, Bell and Downing are squad players. That said, Dack was such a success that if we sold him hed pay for all of them.

Whilst the policy of of buying players for lower fees is in general a clever one. We need to make sure we step up in the market, if we are signing League 1 players they need to be the best ones in that league, Dack was proven as that having won player of the season once. The others were low fee gambles and now at least 2 are just drains on the wage bill, however small. Bell, Downing and Samuel, regardless of my personal opinion on the latter can all at least be squad players for us.

Lets hope Mowbray is allowed more money, and allowed to buy more in the way of finished product/proven quality.

Just now, Tom said:

Unintended, bit of fun based on the current hot topic of people being nosey on public transport, I have loads of respect for Steve Waggot, when he spoke recently at the supporters consultation meeting I found him totally engaging and passionate without being flash. 

Comes across as a football man not a car salesman (no offence intended I also like car salesman the man I bought my car off was one) 

Not sure hes a football man who prioritises the happiness of the home support, based on decisions hes made thus far.

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

I was going to reply but islander200 sum my response perfectly..

How many games did Rhodes play at Boro after his move?

How many games did Hanley play at Newcastle after his move? 

 

Rhodes, Hanley and Marshall wanted out of the club. 

You do realise that since the first one left, we spent half a season near the bottom of the Championship, then the second left, following which we had a woeful season seeing us slip into League 1. (half way through which the third correctly saw the chance to leave)

Last season, one of those players (Hanley) has a Championship medal albeit after playing a minor role, and then was the best player at a solid Championship club last season. Thats better than a spell in League 1.

Marshall was a massive player at a team that finished 8th and 3 points away from the play offs while we were in League 1.

Rhodes you could argue yes has struggled but hes still won promotion in that time.

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

All 3 left Rovers and the careers have gone nowhere. 

Will Norwich be top 6 this season we will see. 

Rhodes has won promotion to the Premier League in that time, as did Hanley before going to a solid Championship club and I believe winning player of the year there.

Marshall was a key component in a Millwall team that very nearly got into the play offs.

We have been relegated (and obviously since promoted) to League 1 in that time.

All 3 would get into our team if they were still here.

But yeah, nowhere.

3 hours ago, J*B said:

Totally, but the club has changed big time in terms of people in position of knowledge. Its a long time ago since I could post the team for each match 24 hours in advance on here knowing it was the case and that Kazim Richards was telling people on twitter privately whats going on behind the scenes. I don't think anybody at all can confidently call transfers anymore, the only one that has proved they can is the Sky Sports guy on twitter but he's only ever a couple of hours in advance of an official announcement. 

Combined to this, we have an actual scouting process now which has been implemented by Mowbray. So when tiny bits are told to people, its often they're only one on the list - e.g. McNulty (which 3 independent people told me - all off here) and Adekanye (told by a journalist) probably where targets, its just we signed different players instead - Armstrong in Adekanye's case. 

What i'm loathed to do is create a culture of people questioning every single rumour on here again which has already seen the likes of Kamy (who has genuine contacts at Ewood) and Nicko (who once upon a time did have genuine contacts at Ewood, although I admit it did go a bit weird in the end) leave the website and leave us all just guessing. Theres a good 2/3 people still left here that post and get info - it won't always be right - but its worth taking everything is a 'decent rumour' and nothing more.

My point is more, you mention that the rumours shouldnt be questioned, but why not? People want to know roughly the chances of its accuracy, and especially in a time where you see clear shite posted everywhere, and obviously at a time where Mowbray seemingly is doing a better job of keeping targets under wraps, as you mentioned.

Ive never really got the line of people are protecting confidentiality as, for one, why did the person pass on the rumour at all if that was a primary concern, and two, why would it then be passed onto a messageboard.

 I appreciate your points and am not saying we should stifle all rumours or anything. But you mention the culture you are trying to encourage/discourage; on the flip side, is it right to have a culture whereby people who post rumours cannot be questioned? And the answer of "i cant tell you who told me" will at times rub people up the wrong way because its the equivalent of saying i know something, but im not telling anyone. So in my opinion there has to be a balance and if someone posts a rumour they shouldnt be able to then hide behind a shield, its only fair to be able to ask them.

51 minutes ago, J*B said:

Perhaps if he does say who has told him and it comes out, the position who has told him may be put in an awkward position? 

If its so confidential surely he wouldnt have said anything at all.

19 minutes ago, J*B said:

A little context only causes more chaos on here - if he says 'a reliable source' or 'someone at the club' all he will get is "WHO!"

Understandbly so. Some people will jump on the back of any transfer gossip however unreliable but most want more than just "ive heard" or "my source tells me" before taking any notice.

For example, your mystery source suggested that we wanted McNulty, and a Liverpool winger (cant remember the name) on loan in January. Neither happened.

Said it the other day but Peterboroughs chairman is the most unprofessional ever. A dream for those who can try and guess where his players are going based on process of elimination and pass off the information as being "in the know" but it sends out a really bad impression of the way he and by association his club operate.

2 minutes ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Please explain how he is another Samuel? What similarities do you actually think there are between the 2? I think they're different completely personally

The source proves that the debate is almost certainly hypothetical and irrelevant, but out of interest, how good is he, how often have you seen him, what would he offer etc?

1 hour ago, roverandout said:

I dont think modric will be able to be as offensive..as i said earlier if croatia commit too many players forward, the speed of our attack will leave them open..i think the croats are more likely to make changes..a lot of their side are past 30 and 2 games of extra time will have diminished their fitness even further.  I also think we are a better side than them. Im not worried about this croatia side..their final third is toothless

Think theres a difference between confidence and being arrogantly disrespectful of another very good team, and I think you are in danger of being the latter.

Croatia are a very good team, both teams have done very well to get where they are and it should be a tight game.

My biggest worries on paper are in midfield, where no matter what 3 we pick (id continue with Alli and Lingard but neither are out and out central midfielders) we are inferior there, Modric and Rakitic ahead of Brozovic (which youd imagine they will play as it gives them more balance) is possibly the best midfield in the tournament. Im a big fan of Henderson but hes got one hell of a job on.

To say they are toothless is blatantly wrong, they might not have a Harry Kane but they pose a big threat. You'd hope our aerial strength can nullify Mandzukic but Rebic and in particular Perisic are very intelligent players drifting in on our side and could be an even bigger danger against a back three. Perisic in the air over Walker is a big worry.

That said, we are the masters of this tournament from set pieces and we have energy and obviously the top scorer, we need to be a bit braver in attack and we have a good chance.

41 minutes ago, Gladwingone said:

Sterling is complete bobbins.

He hasn't done a thing except waste chances.

I have got more striker's instinct in my left ass cheek

 

As far as the remaining number 10's go. Put into the order of quality :-

Hazard

Mbappe

Modric

Sterling

 

Did your left ass cheek get 18 goals and 15 assists in 33 league games last season?

The masses are conveniently ignoring that Sterling was our most dangerous player on Saturday, yes he should have put one away but his pace and dribbling frightened Sweden, he does need a goal to get his confidence up and shut people up.

2 hours ago, chaddyrovers said:

 

Dont remember the goal but watched it back. Good goal..also watch most of his goals from last season and he shows pacey and finishing

Any player looks good on a showreel chaddy.

1 hour ago, Bigdoggsteel said:

Did Mowbray say that? 

So because of Gladwin he said he won't sign players who played well against his teams. That would be a strange policy. 

So you have a link to these quotes? I really don't recall him saying that. I remember people on here saying it alright 

He said that he wanted to overhaul the scouting network, to have a far more in depth view of the players hes bringing in. A few of the players he brought in last summer, he referenced as having good games against his sides in the past.

I didnt even nearly say that he wont sign players who play well against him because of Gladwins failures so please dont take my quotes out of context or misquote me.

Haha I was gonna say he scored at Ewood.

Mowbrays mentioned before about moving away from signing players who have had good games against his teams, its not an efficient way of going about things. I think he said Gladwin impressed him once and look at how that turned out.

You need to look in more detail and im not sure Harrisons record suggests he will have the same impact as say re signing Armstrong would.

13 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

I see him more of a box to box midfielder myself Travis..thats where Ive seen him play when ive been to watch the under 23's play

How many times?

Just now, chaddyrovers said:

Bennett played right back today whilst Travis played in centre midfield. 

Will Bennett play there long term? 

Not sure you can take anything from a friendly, all about fitting in 22 players to get them a game however possible.

For Travis, hes played for the academy teams apparently at right back and theres far more of an opportunity there than central midfield where we have Smallwood, Evans, Davenport, Whittingham and Rothwell ahead of him.

Just now, Bbrovers2288 said:

Scored the first goal against us at Ewood, very well taken goal. 

 

In in other news I’d like to see us make a move for Alex Mowatt, fits the bill of a Mowbray type project, highly regarded has then went off the boil but young and a point to prove. 

In a position we are well stocked.

Just now, RoversClitheroe said:

Not the link I saw! But it seems to be spreading

Where did you see it, impossible to comment without some context.

58 minutes ago, RoversClitheroe said:

Ellis Harrison saw someone commented about him coming to Rovers

Very vague, who said?

4 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Kent has played championship[ where has Maddison hasn't he? Plus I think Kent is a better player than Maddison is aswell. seen both live a number of times

 

Also isn't Maddison more of number 10 player than a proper winger? according to this https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/marcus-maddison/leistungsdaten/spieler/221561

he has played the number 10 role than either wide role

Bennett has been a winger for many years so he does play there. Rothwell did played there 11 times last season and Conway is a wide player. 

Where have you seen them both a number of times live? And if so, why did you use transfermarkt to determine Maddisons best position, if youve seen him live?

"I would prefer Kent to Maddison if we could sign only 1." - could you explain this quote please, I dont understand why we are limited to 1 winger?

Sorry if it sounds like im having a go, I just feel like some of your suggestions are either square pegs in round holes (Rothwell as a winger etc) or not of a sufficient quality to be sustainable as good Championship players (ie Heneghan before he joined Blackpool, Conway resigning, Osayi-Samuel, Edwards, Baldwin, Hadi Sacko) they all are either League 1 quality or failed Championship players. We need better than that.

They dont have the track record that Maddison etc have in terms of regular goals/assists, yet you turn your nose up at him.

4 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

I would look into a loan deal for him

They are 3 names that been linked this summer, I would be happy with 1 winger if we signed Armstrong aswell. We have 3 players who can play wide plus Conway. 

I would prefer Kent to Maddison if we could sign only 1. Nixon has linked us twice to him and some other reporter aswell

Gallagher is on 10k a week after he signed a new contract last summer but Birmingham wages are here https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/birmingham-eye-watering-striker-loan-11060633

maybe its how Lee Johnson played him

I think he might come available after Newcastle sign a striker or 2

Gallagher scored 11 goals in 43 games for us. Plus more than of that season we had Coyle has manager.

Kent has 5 assists and 3 goals in his championship but he brings skills and pace. and that's we need. 

great news. 

Why would you prefer a loan winger with very underwhelming stats throughout his various loan spells, over someone who has a track record of assists and goals?

"I would prefer Kent to Maddison if we could sign only 1. Nixon has linked us twice to him and some other reporter aswell" - Nixon talks shite so id ignore that for now. But I dont get the quote "if we could only sign 1." Why the random limit, why does it have to be only 1?

As said previously, we dont want players who CAN play there, we want players who DO play there. 

Was thinking of this team on the opening day. They can all do a job in the positions ive put them in and have played them at times in the past so should be fine:

Raya

Bennett Nyambe Williams Davenport

Whittingham Dack Travis Rothwell Bell

Samuel

8 minutes ago, Stuart said:

This young side has already out-performed realistic expectations.

I just hope a fortunate side of the draw and several ‘big’ teams going out doesn’t raise expectations above where they should be.

Given where we have got to (best 8 in the world) I hope that elimination tomorrow doesn’t take away from what Southgate and his charges have achieved.

Tomorrow we should be under no pressure, looking to enjoy the occasion, and gain some valuable experience. But that’s not how Engerland fans whipped up by the English media works. “It’s only Sweden - how many PL players do they have?”

If we win the tournament, it’ll be a miracle. One which will soon be ‘taken away’ from us after a few weeks when the British media decides we got lucky by not playing any of the top sides.

Belgium are the strongest side left and it’ll take a bad decision by a player or official for them to win. Still think Russia in Russia are the dark horse.

Think youre being very harsh here and are writing off this tournament too easily. Totally get the need to also look at further tournaments but expectations DO change dependant on the draw, in this instance, a very favourable one, no matter how you dress it up, and it is a chance to get far, albeit winning it will be unlikely. I expected quarter finals based on the draw, but things do change, I expected Brazil/Germany in the quarter finals, not Sweden.

If we go out tomorrow to Sweden, people will be understandably very frustrated because we are rightfully the favourites tomorrow. Not ashamed like they have been in the past, but looking at the opposition and the chance it represents of realistically getting to a semi final, it would be a kick in the teeth. Swedens front 2 is Ola Toivonen, a far from prolific 32 year old playing in France, and Marcus Berg, a 31 year old playing in the UAE. Their star player is Emil Forsberg who is a big danger, but alongside him, other team mates include Seb Larsson who recently played for Hull. No matter how you downplay it, the calibre and ability in our team far exceeds theirs ON PAPER, I am well aware that it doesnt work like that, and it wont be easy, they are no mugs, but its not ignorance or arrogance to see tomorrows winnable, albeit far from easy match, as alot more than a chance to gain some experience. 

The paragraph in bold is not right either, if we won the World Cup theres not a chance it would be anything but wildly celebrated.

Surely Alan Nixon wasnt making stuff up?

Neymar is so easy to dislike. Diving cheat who was really poor tonight. The best Brazil player by far this tournament has been Coutinho.